Resources

Looking for resources to help make your venue more accessible? Look no further!

Below you'll find links to free information, charities and organisations that can provide assistance

About Autism in Museums 

The Wonder House Podcast - 2021 Autism in Museums features in the 20th edition of this podcast run by Dr Sushma Jansari from the British Museum. I talk about my career before I started Autism in Museums, why access in museums is so important and the work I have been doing with museums across the country. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://thewonderhouse.co.uk/claire-madge

Hugs and Buttons Inspiring Women in Arts Interviews, Reviews and AMA Conversations by Sara Sarf. I was interviewed by Sara in 2023 about my career and consultancy work. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://hugsandbuttons.art.blog/claire-madge-interview/

For Arts' Sake Podcast - In 2019 I got a chance to talk about more work in this podcast. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://forartsake.co.uk/claire_madge/

MuseumNext - In 2019 I got an opportunity to share my work at Museum Next you can see my speech and a transcript here. [accessed 25 January 2025] - https://www.museumnext.com/article/film-bringing-autism-into-museums/

Resources written by Autism in Museums 

Welcoming Young People and Families with Autism 2020 - This has refreshed the original resource produced in 2016 produced with Kids in Museums in collaboration with Autism in Museums. With thanks to  Ambitious About Autism for their help. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/resources/how-can-your-museum-better-welcome-families-and-young-people-with-autism/

Autism in Museums: A revolution in the making - American Alliance of Museums, July 2019 [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.aam-us.org/2019/07/16/autism-in-museums-a-revolution-in-the-making/

National Autistic Society – Making Museums More Autism Friendly. Written in 2016 this explores how some museums use initiatives such as early openings and backpacks, to remove the barriers autistic people may face when visiting. [accessed 25 January 2025]. https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/museums

Setting up an Access Advisory Panel - things to consider, experiences from the Horniman Museum 2018. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://tinctureofmuseum.wordpress.com/2018/06/29/setting-up-an-access-advisory-panel-things-to-consider-experiences-from-the-horniman-museum-2018/

External links -

Autism Training and Understanding Autism 

This National Autistic Society Video – Too Much Information is great for explaining how sensory overload can affect autistic people. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPknwW8mPAM

Ambitious About Autism - Young people explain autism. [accessed 25 January 2025] - https://youtu.be/xTLUYda-0O8

This video from the Autograph Gallery in London was made in conjunction with the charity Mouth that Roars. It features young artists with autism and a wide spectrum of learning differences, challenging how people like themselves are seen in the mainstream media. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://autograph.org.uk/blog/a-different-way-of-seeing/

Guides and toolkits

General

VisitEngland Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkit – There are a number of resources on the website on how to make tourist venues. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.visitbritain.org/business-advice/make-your-business-accessible-and-inclusive/visitengland-accessible-and-inclusive

Special Schools and Museums Toolkit - A unique toolkit which aims to provide museums with practical support to create inclusive and accessible experiences for people with special educational needs and disability (SEND). This is really useful if you want to work with Special Schools. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.culturehive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/222475_Handbook-44pp-LowRes.pdf

Include Autism Toolkit from Ambitious About Autism - Written by autistic young people this practical guide contains information, advice and resources to increase understanding of autism and encourage simple changes that will make youth groups more autism-friendly places. This is really helpful if you consult with local groups to help make your museum more inclusive. Download the version for Youth Group Leaders. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/youth-participation/youth-led-toolkits/include-autism

Establishing an Inclusive Steering Committee - From Accentuate - Terry Rhodes, Chair, Gosport Heritage, talks about her experience getting local disabled people involved in Heritage Open Days through the Inclusion Group. [accessed 25 January 2025] http://www.accentuateuk.org/?location_id=2204

Sensory backpacks -

Euan's Guide - What to put in a sensory backpack. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.euansguide.com/campaigns/creating-a-sensory-backpack

Museums Galleries Scotland - Creating a sensory backpack [accessed 25 January 2025]  https://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/case-study/creating-a-sensory-backpack-at-university-of-dundee-museums/

Postal Museum - Sensory bags. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.postalmuseum.org/visit-us/accessibility/information-for-autistic-people/

Sensory maps -

Historic England - How do we produce a sensory map for potential visitors? [accessed 25 January 2025] https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/training-skills/heritageskills-cpd/inclusion/audiences/sensory-map/

Sensory Trust - Sensory Mapping. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.sensorytrust.org.uk/resources/guidance/sensory-mapping

Science Museum - Sensory map, Autism in Museums worked on this map in consultation with the Science Museum and autism families and young people. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-07/Sensory-Map-Science-Museum-July-2022.pdf (downloadable pdf)

National Museum of Scotland - Sensory map. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.nms.ac.uk/index.php/actions/tools/tools/download-file?id=176444 (downloadable pdf)

Royal Society of Sculptors - Sensory map. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://sculptors.org.uk/sites/default/files/inline-files/Sensory%20Map_1.pdf (downloadable pdf)

British Museum - Sensory map. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.britishmuseum.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/British-Museum-Sensory-Map_2023.pdf

Reports

Heritage Access 2022 - VocalEyes in collaboration with Stagetext, Autism in Museums and the Centre for Accessible Environments published a report into online access information for the UK museum and heritage sector which tracks the changes in the state of access over the last 4 years. [accessed 25 January 2025]Heritage Access 2022

Museum and Heritage Access Survey 2020 - VocalEyes in collaboration with Stagetext and Autism in Museums. Reflecting visitor views of how accessible museums and heritage are based on visits in the last 12 months. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://vocaleyes.co.uk/museum-and-heritage-access-survey-2020/

External Blogs and articles

National Museums Liverpool provide supported internships for you people with special educational needs and disabilities, 2020 Kids in Museums News [accessed 25 January 2025] https://kidsinmuseums.org.uk/2020/11/how-are-museums-supporting-young-people-to-develop-their-skills-in-lockdown-and-beyond/

How Museums are becoming more sensory-friendly for those with autism, Smithsonian Magazine, 5th January 2018 [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-museums-are-becoming-more-sensory-friendly-for-those-with-autism-180967740/

The Social Stories Spectrum Project makes museums more accessible to adults on the autism spectrum, 31 August 2018, by Debra Muzikar [accessed 25 January 2025]. The Art of Autism Blog – https://the-art-of-autism.com/the-social-stories-spectrum-project-will-make-museums-more-accessible-to-adults-on-the-autism-spectrum/

Social Stories for Autistic Children [accessed 27 January 2025] – Autism Parenting Magazine https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/social-stories-for-autistic-children/

Autism in the Workplace

Ambitious About Autism Good toolkit here with advice on supporting autistic people into work. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/employment/toolkits/transition-to-employment-toolkit

Creative Differences: A handbook for embracing neurodiversity in the creative industries - This handbook produced by Universal Music is particularly helpful when thinking about adjustments to the workplace and recruitment process. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://umusic.co.uk/Creative-Differences-Handbook.pdf

Neurodiversity In The Modern Workplace - Tips for recruiting neurodiverse candidates and supporting them in the workplace. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://www.helloezra.com/neurodiversity-modern-workplace/

Discount Cards

Max Card - UK discount card for fostered and children with additional needs. [accessed 25 January 2025] https://mymaxcard.co.uk/

Contacts

A New Direction – https://www.anewdirection.org.uk/ – A New Direction is a London-based non-profit generating opportunities for children and young people to unlock their creativity. They have an SEND schools network. [accessed 25 January 2025]

Mencap Cymru/Wales – https://wales.mencap.org.uk/ Mencap Cymru is the voice of learning disability in Wales. Our vision is a world where people with a learning disability are valued equally, listened to and included. [accessed 25 January 2025]